To get into a Danish bachelor's programme, your school-leaving certificate has to be on a level with a Danish upper secondary school leaving certificate. On top of that, most programmes set specific entry requirements, and the institution decides whether you meet them. There is no single national test that makes you eligible everywhere.
Start with the general level
The first question is whether your qualification counts as equivalent to a Danish upper secondary qualification. The Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education publishes a list of foreign qualifications for entry into Danish higher education, so check your certificate against that list first.
For Academy Profession programmes, it may be enough that your certificate is on a level with a relevant Danish vocational qualification. The same can apply to some Professional Bachelor's programmes. So the bar is not always the same across the system, and it depends on the programme type you are aiming for.
Specific entry requirements are where most people stumble
Meeting the general level is not the end of it. Specific entry requirements typically cover the level of subjects you passed, your marks in individual subjects, and your overall grade point average. A programme may want a certain level in maths or in a language, and it may want a minimum mark.
Study in Denmark advises asking the institution directly whether you fulfil the specific entry requirements. That is good advice. The institution owns the admission decision, and it is the only body that can tell you yes or no with confidence. Before you get attached to a course, email the admissions office with your transcripts and ask.
Quota 1 and quota 2
Danish applicants are split into quota 1 and quota 2. Applicants with a non-Danish upper secondary education can apply through quota 2. That matters because it gives you a route in, but it does not lower the bar: like Danish applicants, you must still meet the specific entry requirements of the programme.
So the practical sequence is: confirm your qualification is recognised, confirm you meet the subject and grade requirements, then apply. If you are still choosing where to aim, look through the universities and then find the programmes that fit your background before you get buried in paperwork.
Language requirements
Language requirements for Danish or English proficiency may apply. Which one depends on the language of instruction, and programmes vary. Some ask for a test score, some accept other evidence, and the institution sets the rule. Ask the programme what it accepts rather than assuming your existing certificate will do.
How and when to apply
Undergraduate applications are coordinated centrally through optagelse.dk, but they are assessed by the institutions. The deadlines are 15 March and 5 July, both at 12 noon (CET).
- Check your qualification against the national list of foreign qualifications.
- Ask the institution whether you meet the specific entry requirements.
- Confirm the language requirement and what evidence it accepts.
- Submit through optagelse.dk before the relevant deadline.
Start early. Collecting transcripts, translations and test results takes longer than most people expect, and the institutions will not chase you for missing documents.
Fees, permits and what changes
Higher education is free of charge for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland, and for students entitled to the same status as Danish citizens under EU law. Other full-degree students pay tuition fees set by each institution. We do not publish a single figure because there isn't one: check the programme page, and confirm the fee with the institution.
Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland normally need a residence permit for study before they come. You apply through the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI), and the details are on nyidanmark.dk. SIRI decides on permits; the institution decides on admission. Keep those two processes separate in your head.
If you want to see how many options there are, our catalogue lists 24 Danish higher education institutions and 422 programmes imported from the Study in Denmark register. You can see the full list of all universities in Denmark and browse the programmes by subject and city.
A quick comparison
| Question | Who answers it |
|---|---|
| Is my qualification recognised? | The Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education list, then the institution |
| Do I meet the subject and grade requirements? | The institution |
| What English or Danish score do I need? | The institution |
| When is the deadline? | optagelse.dk: 15 March and 5 July, 12 noon (CET) |
| Do I need a residence permit? | SIRI, via nyidanmark.dk |
Where to check the numbers we have not given you
We have deliberately not invented fees, test scores or document lists. For those, go to the institution's own programme page, studyindenmark.dk, optagelse.dk, nyidanmark.dk or su.dk. Fees and deadlines on this site are shown as listed in the Study in Denmark register, and you must confirm them with the institution.
One reassuring note: all Danish higher education institutions use ECTS credits and follow national rules on teacher qualifications, degree structures and examinations. So whichever programme you land on, the structure and quality framework are consistent.
Sources
- Study in Denmark, how to apply
- Study in Denmark, regulations of admission quota 1 and quota 2
- Study in Denmark, tuition fees and scholarships
- Study in Denmark, residence permits for non-EU/EEA citizens
- Study in Denmark, guarantee for a quality experience
- Our catalogue, imported from the Study in Denmark register
Frequently asked questions
What qualification do I need to study a bachelor's in Denmark?
Your qualification must be on a level with a Danish upper secondary school leaving certificate. The Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education publishes a list of foreign qualifications for entry into Danish higher education, so check your certificate against it. For Academy Profession programmes, and some Professional Bachelor's programmes, a level matching a relevant Danish vocational qualification may be enough.
Can international students apply through quota 2?
Yes. Applicants with a non-Danish upper secondary education can apply through quota 2. But you still have to meet the specific entry requirements of the programme, just like Danish applicants, so quota 2 is a route in rather than a lower bar.
Do I need to prove my English or Danish?
Language requirements for Danish or English proficiency may apply, depending on the language of instruction. The institution sets the rule and decides what evidence it accepts, so ask the programme directly before you book a test.
When is the deadline for undergraduate applications in Denmark?
Undergraduate applications are coordinated through optagelse.dk, with deadlines of 15 March and 5 July, both at 12 noon (CET). The applications are assessed by the institutions, not by optagelse.dk, so direct any question about your qualifications to the institution.